Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) by Valerie Comer Read Free Book Online Page A

pup’s head. “She’s just worried about Dad, about their future, isn’t she, Domino? That’s stress speaking.”
    Wasn’t it?

Chapter 5

    “Don’t you all have something better to do than watch me?” Claire wiped sweat off her forehead with the back of a gloved hand, leaving a smear of dirt. Good thing she had a clue about mechanical stuff, because Jo sure didn’t. Claire had scrounged up a rototiller in working condition at an auction, but running it looked to be crazy slow going.
    Sierra and Jo looked at each other. T hey’d kept busy all morning pruning out the old raspberry canes. Claire was only on the third length of the berry beds, with three more rows to go. To say nothing of the herb garden. And the overgrown vegetable plot. And adding soil amendments for all those and tilling them in, too.
    Jo had offered to spell Claire but the handles came almost to her shoulders.
    “Never mind.” Claire struggled to turn the tiller around at the end of the row.
    Jo shook her head. “This isn’t going to work.” News flash .
    Claire grunted. “Steve Nemesek might’ve told Sierra he’d be happy to help us, but he’s in the hospital. Not much help there.” She lined the tiller up for its return trip.
    “Ah, but he has a son.” Sierra hip-checked Jo. “I bet Zach can drive his dad’s tractor.”
    Trust Sierra to bring the guy up. She was just looking for an excuse to see him again. But hey, two could play that game. “Good idea. I’ll go ask him.”
    “I’m not needed here. I’ll come with you.” Sierra peeled off her gloves and smacked them together. Clumped dirt flew off.
    Jo tried to douse the flare of resentment that shot through her. “Sure, let’s go.”
    “You might want to comb your hair.”
    Jo had thought of doing just that, but not anymore. “Not trying to impress anyone.” She shrugged. “It’s a work day. I look like I’ve been working. It’s all good.”
    Sierra’s mouth twisted slightly. Sure she’d want to look her best. Give her five minutes and she’d outshine Jo by a huge magnitude. But right now, Jo didn’t think Sierra looked any cuter than her. Not with the dirt smudged on Sierra’s forehead and cheeks. Jo probably had some, too. “Ready?”
    They headed down the driveway. After a minute, Sierra said, “So what’s up with you?”
    “With me?”
    “Yeah. You seem rather eager to go find Zach.”
    “It was your idea.” Jo kicked at a rock. “I thought we wanted to get the garden ready today.”
    Sierra sighed. “Nothing more?”
    “No, why would there be?” Just because every guy she’d met in the past five years had barely given her a glance before falling hard for Sierra? No reason.
    “It’s not like we need to compete, you know. He’s a nice guy, but he’s not staying.”
    “Yeah. I know.” Unless he fell in love and changed his mind. Even then it would probably be Sierra he went for. Maybe Jo should encourage her. It wasn’t likely she’d ever find a guy who loved her until Sierra was happily married and out-like-a-watermelon pregnant. Even then, she’d probably be one of those that glowed. No doubt Jo would throw up for nine months and look like a bloated shrew.
    Good grief. Where were these thoughts even coming from? Please, Lord, don’t let this come between us .
    Sierra bumped Jo’s shoulder. “So you’re saying you’re attracted to him?”
    “I didn’t say that.” Jo blew a deep breath to release her envy.
    “You’re not denying it, either.”
    Jo stopped in the middle of the road. “Look, it doesn’t matter. Like you said, he’s back to urban life the minute he’s free to leave. I’m not interested in moving off to the city, even a small one like Coeur d’Alene. Are you?”
    Sierra laughed. “Nope. But you never know with the right guy. We need to be open to God’s leading. Step-by-step, right?”
    Yeah, step-by-step. Walking down this road was like walking to her doom.

    ***

    “Where’d Domino go?” Zach set the